Can a Second Chance Change It All?
Chapter 6
Some One Like You
Author: Jo
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters of Robotech or Robotech; I’m just doing this for fun. Well, maybe the personality of Riber is mine (he is my ideal man)
To: Sphersian, to K71 for been my beta now (thank you so much), for all the members of the forum and of course to Carla

Lisa left her home after sharing her breakfast with Karl. She felt so empty when she left home, all that she wanted to do was stay there cuddling with Karl all day. But all good things have an end and for her the early shift Monday was the end to her dream weekend with Karl.
So there she was, about to enter the bridge, trying to hide the big smile that she had because, on her way to the bridge, she had remembered all that she and Karl had done on the weekend, especially what had happened in her bathroom. Just the memory made her flush and smile wider. But now she had to be the cool and professional Lisa that everyone was used to seeing. But she just couldn’t help it, she couldn’t help but smile and she was happy for that. There had been so much time since the last time that she had felt so happy, so free, so … in love.
She made a serious face and entered the Bridge, pulling up the neck of her uniform jacket and straightening the entire uniform. Finally she entered; the Captain wasn’t there, only the Trio and Claudia. They turned in her direction immediately, and that was as long as her serious face lasted. Her smile appeared again on her face at the same time that she said hello to the girls.
“Well, well look who is here,” said Claudia, moving away from her screen and crossing her arms.
“Hi Claudia,” said Lisa, a little embarrassed but smiling to her as she came closer to her own station.
“Can I ask how your weekend was?” asked Claudia smiling.
“Fine,” said Lisa smiling, “actually it was great,” she added with a dreamy voice.
“By your face it seems that it was more than great. What do you think girls?” said Claudia, looking at the girls.
“It seems so. Come on Lisa, tell us all the details,” said Kim.
“Yes please tell us. How is he? Is he handsome? Did he kiss good?” asked Sammie walking next to Lisa, looking at her with expectation.
“Sammie, don’t be so curios,” said Vanessa who was the only one who was still at her station.
“Come on V, you want to know, too,” said Sammie to Vanessa and then turned to Lisa again, “Come on Lisa, you know that you can trust us,” said Sammie crossing her hands as if she were praying.
“Ok, ok,” said Lisa smiling, “Yes, he is handsome, and yes he is a very good kisser and that’s all that you are going to know,” said Lisa and looked serious again.
“But Lisa,” protested Kim.
“That’s all, now back to your station,” said Lisa seriously. The girls were about to protest but Lisa replied before they could even say anything, “I want a report of all that happened while I wasn’t here.”
“Yes Lisa,” said the trio at the same time and they walked back to their stations. Claudia returned to hers too, and then walked back to Lisa’s with some papers in her hands.
“Here’s a preliminary report,” said Claudia, giving Lisa the papers, but she didn’t go back to her station.
“Thanks,” said Lisa and started to read the papers and while she did that, she could feel that all eyes were on her. Then she understood the reason when she read the promotion page.
“I just can’t believe it,” said Lisa when she read the last page “Well this is… is,” said Lisa with amazement and all the girls looked at each other waiting for Lisa’s explosion.
“This is.. I guess that things happened sooner than what I expected,” said Lisa more to herself than to the girls. She wasn’t angry but she wasn’t happy either.
The girls looked at each other surprised that Lisa hadn’t made a storm when she found out that Hunter had been promoted to lieutenant and that he was now squadron leader. They just couldn’t believe it.
“Did you read the last page?” asked Claudia.
“Yes, I read the entire report,” said Lisa leaving the papers aside at her station.
“Did you read that Hunter was promoted and now he is team leader?” asked Kim.
“Yes.”
“And your aren’t going to say anything?” asked Claudia.
“What can I say?” said Lisa a little confused.
“That they are insane? That they just couldn’t have made him team leader” said Sammie.
“Well I think that they rushed it a little, that maybe he is not ready to be a team leader so soon, but I also believe that he is a good soldier; if he were a little bit more disciplined he would be among the best. I guess that it was just matter of time until he was promoted, so truly it doesn’t surprised me that much,” said Lisa seriously.
“Lisa is that really you?” asked Claudia walking closer to her.
“Why does that surprise you so much?” asked Lisa a little embarrassed.
“Because you are always are fighting with him. We thought that the idea of having him as a team leader would make you have a stroke,” said Kim.
“Yeah well, I wouldn’t have promoted him so soon, but it’s not my decision to see who is promoted and who isn’t,” said Lisa, remaining in silence for a while.
“Now we have more important things to deal with than Hunter’s promotion,” said Lisa, but the girls were still waiting for her to explode.
“Well I think that Lisa is right, after all we have to keep an eye on the enemy,” said Vanessa and turned back to her screen.
“But Lisa, if you had trouble with him while he was just a corporal, how will you handle him now that he is a team leader?” asked Sammie.
“Don’t worry about that Sam, I’ll handle him”, said Lisa with confidence and then turned to her station, forcing the girls to return to theirs.
A few moments past until Lisa came closer to Claudia’s station.
“Claudia, can you explain these new codes to me?” asked Lisa, standing next to Claudia and pointing to a list of codes.
“Sure, they are the new engineering codes,” said Claudia pointing the codes and getting closer to Lisa. “They are for activating the new protocols of cooling the engi..” Claudia was saying, but suddenly she became silent and before Lisa could notice Claudia pulled her turtle neck down, leaving Lisa’s neck uncovered and then she covered her mouth with her hand acting surprised.
Lisa reacted immediately and pulled up her turtleneck and covered her neck with both of her hands and stepped back.
“Is that what I think it is?” asked Claudia pointing to Lisa’s neck with an expression between amused and shocked.
“What is what?” said Lisa taking another step back and trying to cover her neck as she felt her face turning red.
“Oh for Christ sake Lisa, you have a hicky on your neck,” said Claudia pointing to Lisa’s neck with her eyes wide open.
“Claudia,” said Lisa almost in panic, afraid that the other girls had heard her.
“Oh come on Lisa, I can’t believe it,” said Claudia and started to laugh.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Lisa trying to sound serious.
“It seems that your weekend definitely was more than great,” said Claudia and hit Lisa softly on the shoulder and winked at her.
“Claudia,” Lisa whispered in protest.
“Come on Lisa, you know that you can tell anything to Aunt Claudia,” said Claudia, standing next to Lisa.
“There’s nothing to tell,” said Lisa looking at her with challenging eyes
“Of course there are things to tell. Come on Lisa, I tell you everything,” said Claudia begging.
“Truly, there’s nothing to tell.”
“Then are you going to tell me that nothing….” said Claudia in a whisper.
“Nothing happened, Claudia,” said Lisa seriously.
“Nothing? Nothing at all?” asked Claudia in disbelief.
“Truly Claudia, nothing happen.”
“Oh yeah, and now you are going to tell me that, that,” said Claudia, pulling Lisa’s turtle neck down again “appeared from nowhere.”
“Claudia,” said Lisa ashamed.
“Lisa,” said Claudia looking Lisa’s neck closer.
“Claudia stop it, the girls are going to notice,” said Lisa in a desperate whisper.
“Then you are going to tell me everything,” said Claudia following Lisa back to her station.
“No, stop it,” said Lisa stepping back, facing Claudia.
“Lisa,” said Claudia looking at her with a devilish sparkle in her eyes.
“Claudia,” said Lisa. As if she were afraid of Claudia she stepped back, pinning herself against her station. All of a sudden all the alarms started to ring.
“What happened?” asked Sammie.
“See what you did?” said Lisa, now completely serious.
“As if with that you are going to escape from telling me the truth,” said Claudia with a winning smile.
“Claudia,” said Lisa now a little upset; now she was back on the job and there was no time for jokes.
“I detect enemy pods coming,” said Vanessa, and that was all that was required to get everybody back to their job and become the professional women that they were.

Rick was walking to his apartment, still in disbelief of the Titanium Medal for Distinguished Services pinned to his jacket. He truly couldn’t believe that he had received that medal. He still didn’t understand why he had received that medal but he was really happy for it, even when he thought that many other soldiers had done amazing things in that battle. He didn’t want to think about that too much, as he looked at the medal glowing on his chest he had the feeling that he was important some how.
But suddenly Roy took him out of his thoughts.
“Hey little Bro, come over here,” said Roy standing at the entrance of his quarters.
“Hi Roy,” said Rick as he entered Roy’s quarters, “wasn’t that a beautiful ceremony?” asked Rick still smiling.
“Yes it was,” said Roy while he sat in front his computer.
“I mean all the important people were there,” said Rick.
“Hey it was the Titanium Medal after all, you should be happy, not too many people win that medal. It took me several battles to win mine,” said Roy and winked at Rick.
“But I still don’t understand why I won mine,” said Rick confused, with a dreamy expression.
“A certain rescue a few days ago on Mars. Does that mean anything to you?”
“You mean that I got this medal for rescuing Commander Hayes? I truly don’t think so Roy,” said Rick now more awake.
“Why not? You rescued her and Lieutenant Riber, and you did it very well.”
“Yeah, but you know that in order to win this medal I have to be highly recommended by my team leader and some other high rank officer, and I truly doubt that Commander Hayes could ever write something good about me,” said Rick in sarcastic tone.
Roy’s smile vanished. “You don’t know her, that’s why you are saying that.”
“Come on Roy, you know that she and I don’t get along very well.”
“Yes, but you have some guilt in that, too.”
“Maybe, but she is the one that...” Rick was saying but he remained in silence when he saw that Roy’s face was becoming more serious.
“I’ve got another surprise for you,” said Roy, resuming his good humor after some moments of awkward silence.
“What is it?” asked Rick curiously.
“Here,” said Roy, opening a drawer of his desk, “this is yours too” he said as he threw a small box to Rick.
“What is this?” asked Rick when he opened the small box.
“Your lieutenant’s bars. Congratulations,” said Roy, smiling this time.
“Lieutenant? Me?” asked Rick with surprise.
“Yes my friend, lieutenant,” said Roy.
“I can’t believe it,” said Rick, looking at the box again. He didn’t know if he should be happy or not. For one side he was happy being promoted despite the fact he didn’t admit it was important to him. On the other hand, it also meant that there were other obligations for him, more important ones and that scared him.
“Well believe it, because now you are Lieutenant Hunter, leader of the Vermillion team and you will have two men under your command,” Roy said smiling, but his smile vanished as soon as he saw Rick’s face.
“Two men? Under my command?” asked Rick almost terrified.
“Yes,” said Roy cautiously.
“But Roy, I’m just 19, how can I have two men’s lives in my hands, under my command?” asked Rick nervously, obviously scared.
“Rick it’s a big responsibility, but command wouldn’t name you team leader if they didn’t think you were ready for it. Plus, I believe that you are ready for it.”
“But Roy how can you say that? Less than a year ago I was performing acrobatic flying in the sky, I’m not ready to be a team leader. I’m not ready to have other people’s lives in my hands,” said Rick while he was pacing across Roy’s quarters like a desperate dog.
“You have already had people’s lives in your hands and you have done fine. Judging by that medal, more than fine,” said Roy pointing to Rick’s Titanium Medal.
“That was different,” said Rick with disdain.
“In what way?” asked Roy seriously and a little pissed off.
“Because it was just one time. Now these two men’s lives will be in my hands all the time. I will have to take care of them all the time when I’m out there flying,” said Rick pointing to one of the windows of Roy’s quarters from where you could see the stars.
“And what? The fact that you have to take care of them wouldn’t give you enough time to be a hero? To sparkle individually?” asked Roy with suspiciousness.
“Of course not!” said Rick, upset “because if anything happens to them it will be my responsibility, it will be my fault.”
“It happens to all the team leaders, but at some point you learn to live with it, you can’t save them all Rick.”
“Are you telling me that you don’t feel anything when some member of your crew dies?” asked Rick, looking at Roy straight in his eyes.
“How can you say that! Of course I feel guilty and I always feel that there was something that I should have done to save them. But I get up the next day and climb into my VT and fight my fights, because I get nothing by crying over it. Because it’s better for everybody that I’m outside flying than here crying for some team member,” said Roy seriously.
“Well I’m not ready for that.”
“Yes you are, it’s just that you are scared,” said Roy and this time he was the one who was looking at Rick.
“No I’m not. All that I’m going to do as a team leader is to get these two men killed. I’ll do a better job remaining just a team member.”
“That’s easy for you, isn’t it?” said Roy and crossed his arms, “all you want to do is the easy job.”
“You know me better than that. Besides, being outside fighting the enemy is not what I call the easy job,” said Rick sarcastically.
“But it’s easier than being a team leader, and all that you are doing Rick is avoiding your responsibilities.”
“You are the one who is adding more responsibilities to me.”
“Because I know that you are capable of accomplishing them, because I have faith in you.”
“Well maybe you are wrong.”
“It seems that I am,” said Roy with deception in his voice and turned his back to Rick.
“So this means that you will send a recommendation to make me a team member again?” asked Rick after a few moments of tense silence.
“No,” said Roy turning to him, “you have to learn to handle your responsibilities. You are not a kid anymore, you are a soldier and a pilot now,” said Roy seriously. After seeing Rick’s expression, he added, “now change that face of a 3 year old kid who is about to make an scene. Your team members are about to arrive and it’s not good that they see their leader with that face.”
“But Roy….” Rick was about to protest, but Roy interrupted him.
“No buts Rick. And don’t disappoint me; don’t disappoint all the people that believe in you. You have the skills that are necessary in you, you just need to have more faith in yourself,” said Roy and by the time that he had finished someone knocked on the door.
When the door was opened and Rick saw his new team members, he thought that they were just two kids that had just finished high school, but then again he wasn’t too much older. Finally he accepted the fact that he would be a team leader and that he would have to baby-sit them.
Rick truly wished that Roy had understood why he didn’t want to be a team leader, but he hadn’t. Roy had thought that he was avoiding his responsibilities and that he was scared. Maybe he was right about the last part, but Roy was also asking too much of him.
After his new team members introduced themselves, they left Roy’s apartment and Rick went with them to Minmei’s Birthday party. A party that ended abruptly when the sirens started to ring.

When the attack was over and everything was in order, Lisa as usual checked everything twice until finally the girls practically kick her off the bridge. Lisa was waiting for the elevator to take her away from the bridge area but all the elevators were busy taking pilots and officers to the infirmary or back from the runways to the their quarters, so she took one of the elevators that was going to the infirmary with a group of young pilots. From there she would walk to the exit of the military zone and to the residential zone where her apartment was.
When a group of pilots left the elevator in the corporals barracks area she was alone in the elevator and the doors were about to close when a hand stopped the doors from closing, making her react and push the button to maintain the doors open.
“Thanks,” said a male voice.
“Your welcome,” answered Lisa.
“Commander,” said Rick when he entered the elevator, a little bit surprised.
“Lieutenant,” answered Lisa politely “What brings you here, are you hurt?” asked Lisa with normal concern.
“No, I’m fine I’m just going to check on Corporal Dixon,” answered Rick, scratching his head. Lisa only smiled. Rick stood still at Lisa’s side, serious until finally Lisa spoke.
“Congratulations for your promotion and for your medal,” said Lisa giving him a polite smile.
“Eh, thanks,” said Rick a little confused, he couldn’t believe that she was congratulating him for his promotion when just minutes ago they were fighting. In fact, he himself didn’t feel very happy about his promotion.
“Really Hunter, congratulations.”
“Well I think I have to thank you for the medal,” said Rick thinking that he had won the medal for saving her.
“Of course not, you earned it and no one will question that,” said Lisa honestly, making Rick bend down his head as if he was somehow ashamed.
He felt that a huge responsibility now lay over his shoulders, a responsibility that he wasn’t sure that he could handle and that made him feel overwhelmed.
“Are you ok Lieutenant?” asked Lisa when she noticed the worried face of Rick.
“Yes I’m fine. Why do you ask?” asked Rick, trying to sound relaxed.
“I don’t know, you have a worried face,” said Lisa.
“I’m just…. I’m fine,” said Rick avoiding her. Even when he felt that he needed to share with someone this weird feeling that he was having, he didn’t have the confidence to tell her how he felt about his promotion. In fact, he felt that if Roy hadn’t understood him, then there was no way that Commander Hayes would understand him.
Lisa only looked at him, knowing exactly why he was wearing his worried face. She only looked at the floor and smiled.
“You will do fine as a team leader,” said Lisa without looking at him, because she knew that if she looked at him he would feel uncomfortable.
“Pardon me?” said Rick; taken off guard and not sure if he had heard what he thought he had heard.
“I said that you will do fine as a team leader, you’re not a bad soldier,” said Lisa and then looked at him quickly.
“You really believe that?” asked Rick without even noticing, as if his mouth had spoken by itself.
“Yes,” said Lisa and then she looked at him with a smile, “I think that you are a good soldier and that …” Lisa was saying, but her phone started to ring. She took her cell phone in her hands and opened it. It was a text message, so she opened her mailbox.
“I miss you, come back soon, your house feels so empty without you.
Love you. Karl “
Lisa finished reading the message and a sweet smile crossed over her face; it was like she was walking on clouds.
Rick noticed immediately how Lisa’s face had changed and he was very curious about what the message had said to make her face change that way, from her neutral face to this glowing face. After a few moments he finally spoke, “You were saying?”
“Oh yeah, sorry. I was saying that you are not a bad soldier. You have some trouble with authority but you are not bad,” said Lisa smiling.
“Well that… I..” Rick was saying all tense, but he was out of words and Lisa noticed.
“Relax Hunter, you’ll do fine. For some reason I, like your other superior officers, believe that you will do a good job as team leader. I do believe in you,” Lisa said smiling. Then she gave a step towards the elevator door as the elevator stopped and the doors opened on the floor that had been marked by Lisa. “You just have to follow my orders and not argue with me and you will do great,” said Lisa with a wider smile and walked outside the elevator. Then she turned in Rick’s direction. “Enjoy your promotion Hunter. Celebrate; you become lieutenant only once,” Lisa said as she walked away from him, leaving Rick with a strange feeling in his heart. He was surprised by her behavior, for some reason he had thought that she would be completely pissed off by his promotion. But there she was, telling him that she believed in him, that he would do a good job, even when he himself wasn’t so sure about that. Even when he had all these questions about it, even when he didn’t feel ready for the assignment. But there she was, she believed in him and that made him feel secure for some reason. If she believed in him then maybe he could make a difference, maybe his promotion wasn’t a mistake and there was something in him that could be useful.
Maybe he could become a good team leader, Rick said to himself and smiled. Now he felt so much more relaxed with his promotion. Maybe he would even make peace with Roy and go out to celebrate his promotion with him. But the word ‘celebrate’ kept sounding in his head. Why did he have the feeling that he was forgetting something?
And then he remembered Minmei’s birthday party; he had left the party and promised her that he would return to give her a present. A present that he didn’t have. Rick left the elevator at full speed, and went downtown to try to find an open store to buy Minmei her present and then go to her place to give it to her.

Lisa arrived at her house and found Karl reading in the living room. As soon as she opened the door Karl stood up from the couch and walked in her direction.
“Hi,” said Lisa, walking next to him until they were face to face.
“Hi,” he said and they looked into each other eyes and smiled. Then they shared a tender kiss.
“Did you read my message?” asked Karl, touching his nose with hers.
“Yes,” she said and smiled.
“I really missed you,” said Karl, about to kiss her again.
“I missed you, too,” said Lisa and they kissed again.
“I made dinner,” said Karl after they broke the kiss.
“Great, I’m starving,” said Lisa.
“Then let’s go to the kitchen,” said Karl as he took Lisa’s hand and they started to walk to the kitchen.
They had dinner fast, talking most of the time about the food itself.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” said Karl when they were walking back to the living room, “I talked with my physical therapist today.”
“Really?” said Lisa and sat looking at Karl.
“Yes and he said that tomorrow we can start the sessions,” said Karl smiling and sitting next to her.
“That’s great,” said Lisa smiling and cuddling next to him.
“Yes, that means that very soon I won’t need this sling,” said Karl pointing to his arm.
“Well I have to admit that you look kinda sexy with that,” said Lisa looking at him with a sexy yet naïve look.
“If you are going to look at me with those eyes every time I wear this, I think I won’t need the therapy,” said Karl getting closer to her.
“But then again you couldn’t move one arm,” said Lisa, this time with a sexy evilness in her eyes.
“Are you sure?” asked Karl, looking at her with a sparkle in his eyes and getting closer to her. They looked at each other’s eyes and started to get closer and closer. When he was about to kiss her, he moved his face and touched his nose with her tenderly and then he gave her a sweet kiss near her mouth, just like they did years ago.
“I love you,” said Lisa with a dreamy voice.
“I love you, too,” said Karl and held her, “how was your day?” he asked after a few minutes. He had read her worried look in the same moment that she had entered the house.
“After all, I guess it was fine,” said Lisa with not too much enthusiasm.
“I heard the sirens, and I saw the explosions, we were under attack, right?”
“Yes, under a big attack.”
“And if you are here then I guess that we are ok.”
“For the moment,” said Lisa with concern.
“Why?” asked Karl, interested.
“Because they retreated, we didn’t defeat them.”
“But if they retreated then maybe it was because they saw the defeat coming.”
“No Karl, they were cleaning the floor with us, they were about to break our last external defense perimeter when they retreated,” said Lisa and she sat up straight. She was upset by that move from the enemy and she was concerned.
“But that makes no sense.”
“It doesn’t and that’s what worries me the most, we don’t know what we are facing.”
“Maybe they had a reason to retreat that you are not seeing,” said Karl trying to calm her, but it didn’t work.
“I checked every angle that I could. I checked over and over their strategy before leaving the bridge, and I still don’t get it.”
Karl made a pause before talking, “I know you’ll figure it out. Maybe not now but I’m sure that you’ll do it,” he said and kissed her on the forehead in way to show how much he believed in her.
“I hope so,” said Lisa, closing her eyes when he kissed her.
“I know you do,” said Karl and looked at her in the eyes and smiled, “in the mean time, why don’t we go out to buy an ice cream.”
“You know that sounds like a great idea.”
“Because it is,” he said and stood up, offering his good arm to help her to stand up.
“I’ll go change my clothes,” said Lisa and was about to walk to her bedroom but Karl held her.
“No, if you go change your clothes, we will never leave the house.”
“But..”
“No buts, besides you look gorgeous in that uniform,” he said smiling at her. She looked at him in disbelief but finally smiled at him and they started to walk out of her house.
They were walking in the park, each of them with an ice cream, talking and laughing. After some steps they stopped. Lisa held Karl’s ice cream and they kissed.
“Look over here, I think that the fountain should be turned on,” said Lisa and she walked in the direction of the Macross fountain.
“Wait,” said Karl but a few steps later Lisa stopped and Karl saw the fountain. It was so beautiful; he walked next to Lisa and held her. “This is so beautiful.”
“Yes it is,” said Lisa and smiled.
“It’s like magic,” said Karl and held Lisa tight. They remained looking at the fountain until something else caught their attention; it was a robot, a photographer robot.
“What’s that?” asked Karl funnily.
“It’s robophotogapher or something like that,” said Lisa, looking at the robot.
“Doctor Lang and his names for the robots. It reminds me of my little robot, the one that helped me with the tests on Mars,” said Karl.
“Really?” said Lisa and turned to look at him.
“Yes,” said Karl and made a pause before he smiled again. “You know we can have him take a picture of us.”
“A picture?” said Lisa in disbelief, “Right now?”
“Yes, the fountain looks amazing.”
“Karl, no, I look awful today, and I’m really tired,” said Lisa.
“Come on, you look great.”
“Karl,” said Lisa and faked a sob, “another day, please.”
Karl looked at her and started to get closer to her, “you are evil, you know?”
“Maybe,” said Lisa with a naïve look, getting closer to him and putting her hands on his chest.
“Fine, another day,” said Karl, avoiding her look, as if he was hurt.
“You are so nice,” said Lisa and kissed him on his cheek, “but you know what we can do?”
“What?”
“Make a wish and throw a coin in the fountain,” said Lisa smiling.
“That sounds good.”
“Yes,” said Lisa and searched in her pockets and took two coins and offered one to Karl, “so, what are you going to ask?” asked Lisa.
“Mmmm, let me think,” said Karl and remained in silence for a while, “I think all my wishes came true when I found you,” he said honestly looking at her in the eyes.
“Mine too,” said Lisa and she blushed a little.
“But we can also ask for world peace,” said Karl smiling after a while.
“Yes, that’s a good idea.”
“Yes, world peace is always a good idea.”
“Well in this case intergalactic peace,” said Lisa smiling.
“Yes, so for intergalactic peace it will be?” asked Karl.
“Yes,” said Lisa and they both turned their backs to the fountain, made the wish and threw the coins. Once that they had done that they got closer and closer.
“So, all your whishes came true when you found me?” asked Karl when he was only a few inches away from Lisa.
“Yes,” said Lisa shyly holding him too.
“I love you so much,” said Karl and started to kiss her, a very deep kiss.
“You know I shouldn’t do this in public,” said Lisa in a whisper when they broke the kiss.
“Why?” asked Karl, resting his head in her forehead.
“Because I’m the first officer and there’s a protocol..” Lisa was saying, but Karl interrupted her.
“Screw protocol, we have a debt of kisses from 8 years,” said Karl smiling.
“Yes, you are right,” said Lisa and they kissed again. When they broke that kiss, they held hands again and started to walk back to Lisa’s house.

Rick was walking back from Minmei’s house with a smile on his face and his hands in his pockets. He was really happy, he had seen Minmei before her birthday was over and she was just fascinated with his birthday present. He knew that she would always remember him every time that she saw the medal. Maybe now he was only a few steps away from becoming her boyfriend- her official boyfriend. Nothing could make his day more happy, now that he had accepted his promotion and was at peace with becoming a team leader. This day that had begun well, then turned really bad had ended up being good after all. Now he only wanted to go to his bedroom and sleep. He was completely exhausted after the last battle. Then suddenly in the middle of the park he froze, he stopped violently and his first reaction was to hide behind a tree.
Once he was behind the tree, he looked carefully at the scene. There was commander Lisa Hayes and this guy, what was his name? Riber? He asked himself. They were standing in front of the Macross fountain, smiling, and then they threw a coin into the fountain. Rick moved his head while thinking that Lisa and this Riber looked like teenagers and suddenly his jaw dropped open, open as it could be. He remained behind the tree looking at the fountain with an expression of horror and surprise. “What was commander Hayes doing kissing that guy in public? In the middle of the park?!” thought Rick when he was out of his astonishment. Then he saw them holding each other and then walking hand in hand. They walked a little then he stopped and kissed the back of Lisa’s hand and they continued walking holding hands. She rested her head on his shoulder and they disappeared behind a big tree.

Rick remained behind the tree for some moments trying to assimilate the scene. He finally decided to get out from behind the tree and sit on a branch next to it where he sat and rested his elbows on his knees. He was upset by the situation; it was as if he was jealous and he didn’t even a have reason to be. In fact, he found her a little bit disagreeable, to bossy and too picky for his taste, besides the fact that she was five years older than he was. So why was he upset by the fact that she was kissing Riber? After all, the commander was young and attractive. Of course she was attractive, you only had to look at her in her flight suit to realize that. And certainly she had all the right to have a life outside of work, but did it have to be with this guy? A guy that she recently met when she had rescued him on Mars, a guy that you could tell wasn’t right for her. He looked dull, with no ideas, without the necessary strength to counteract hers. “But what the hell am I talking about?” he said to himself and hit himself in the head, “I think I’m delirious or something” he thought, but the idea wouldn’t stop going around in his head. What could this stranger have that caught Commander Hayes attention so fast? She wasn’t the type for a one night stand, so who was this guy? What was he doing on Mars? And what were his intentions with Commander Hayes? Rick asked himself. Then one name came to his head and he started to run. When he arrived at his destination, he started to knock on the door with strength until finally the door opened and a ruffled, half -asleep Roy appeared.
“Who the hell is it?” asked Roy, rubbing his eyes. When he finished, he saw Rick, who almost passed over Roy on his way in.
“Roy I need to talk with you.”
“What is it? And please don’t tell me that it’s about your promotion,” said Roy a little upset.
“It has nothing to do with that.”
“And also please don’t tell me that it has something to do with Minmei,” said Roy scratching his head and yawning.
“Minmei? Why would it have to do with her?” asked Rick surprised.
“Because if you are wearing that face and bothering me at 2:00 am and if it’s not about your promotion then it has to be because of her.”
“It’s not about her and I’m sorry to bother you so late, but only you can answer my questions.”
“Well if it’s not about Minmei and I can help you with something, then there’s no problem little bro,” said Roy giving Rick a small slap on Rick’s back as they started to walk to the kitchen.
“I’m really sorry that I woke you up, I imagine how tired you are.”
“Just like any other pilot,” said Roy as he stretched and turned the coffee maker on.
“But you are lucky that Claudia is not here, because if you had interrupted something, then you would be dead,” said Roy smiling.
“I made sure that she wasn’t here before coming,” said Rick and he winked at Roy.
“You surprise me Hunter,” said Roy and this time he hit Rick harder on the back.
“So, what do you want to talk about?”
“About Riber, Lieutenant Riber.”
“What about him?” asked Roy a little nervously.
“What happened between him and Commander Hayes?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Because I saw them kissing,” said Rick and Roy almost dropped the mugs that he had in his hands.
“I didn’t know that they were dating.”
“Oh come on Roy, don’t play the fool with me, I know that you know something,” said Rick a little pissed off, standing in front of Roy.
“Me? Why should I know something?”
“Because your are Claudia’s boyfriend and she is the best friend of the Commander.”
“That doesn’t mean that I know things.”
“Oh come on Roy,” said Rick pissed off while Roy served the coffee in the mugs.
“And why do you want to know?” asked Roy with suspiciousness.
“Because…” said Rick and he remained in silence, “Why did he want to know?” he asked himself.
“Why Rick?” asked Roy looking at him with the two mugs in his hands.
“I don’t know, I just want to know, only for curiosity.”
“”And since when you are so curious?” asked Roy, raising and eyebrow.
“Listen Roy, you know me, you know that I won’t be walking through the halls telling everybody what you tell me.”
“It’s not up to me to tell you what you want to know, you should ask those questions to Lisa,” said Roy as he handed one mug to Rick.
“You know that I could never ask her this, that’s why I’m asking you.”
“I’m sorry Rick, I’m truly sorry,” said Roy looking at Rick in the eyes.
“Roy brother, you know that I won’t tell anybody, besides I thought that we had no secrets.”
“We don’t, you and I don’t have secrets, but what you are asking me has nothing to do with me.”
“You are talking as if it was the most dangerous secret. OK, however you want. If you prefer to be more loyal to her than me, fine” said Rick, leaving his mug on a table and walking to the exit. “Oh and Riber looked pretty good in the Playboy T-shirt that I gave you on your birthday,” said Rick opening the door.
“Fine, fine, come back and take a seat,” said Roy scratching his head “I had forgotten how annoying you can be,” added Roy.
Rick only smiled, giving his back to Roy. He closed the door and started to walk to the small living room.
“But you have to promise me that you won’t tell anybody about this.”
“I swear,” said Rick seriously.
“It’s a long history and I don’t know the details very well.”
“I’m listening to you.”
“Riber was Lisa’s father’s aide when she was a teenager. They became a couple then he left for Mars and they got engaged. The base was destroyed and everybody was presumed dead. That was more than 7 years ago, I guess that Lisa finding him again must be like a second chance.”
“That explains why there were kissing,” said Rick thoughtfully.
“Yes,” said Roy drinking his coffee.
“But you told me that it was a long history, that wasn’t long.”
“Well, haven’t you become a very curious guy?” said Roy and looked at Rick who was looking at him with a gigantic interrogation sign in his face.
“Lisa and Riber for what I know, were a couple for almost 2 years. He helped her a lot, supporting Lisa very much after her mother’s death. A year after that he left for Mars and I believe that Admiral Hayes was furious because after that, Lisa entered the academy to have the chance to be reunited with Riber on Mars. Because she was one of the best, she had been authorized to travel to Mars after the end of her second year, but a few weeks after that the base was attacked and destroyed and everybody was declared dead. After that Lisa shut herself off emotionally and she hasn’t dated anyone since then.”
”Are you serious?” asked Rick with surprise.
“Of course I am. And when I say nobody, I mean it. Claudia and I have arranged some dates for her but it’s always been a complete mess. She never forgot Riber, they were engaged and were about to get married when the base was attacked and all her dreams disappeared. I can only imagine what it meant for her see him again,” said Roy who drank another sip of his coffee and remained looking at the mug while Rick watched the floor.
Rick had never thought he would hear that about Lisa. So that was her relationship with Riber. The only thing that he could think of was how much she must have loved him to wait for him almost 8 years, living off his memory. Now all the pieces began to take place in his head. That’s why she was so desperate to save him, that’s why she was so happy, that’s why her attitude had changed and that’s why she was kissing him in the middle of the park- because she had been in love with him for almost 10 years of her life.
Lisa… he had never even dared to imagine that she could love someone in that way, with so much intensity, with so much devotion. Just the idea of how much she loved Riber made him feel really small. He had always thought of her as someone cold, without feelings, whose only interest in life was her job. Now all that started to break down. She apparently had a life and a heart, only one that had been frozen all this time waiting for someone, for Riber. Then only one thought crossed his mind, the desire that one day one woman, it didn’t matter If that woman was Minmei or not, loved him in the same way that Lisa loved Riber. That she would be capable of waiting for him in the same way that Lisa had waited for Riber. Rick wondered how it would feel for someone to love him in that way.
“Hey Rick, did a cat eat your tongue?” asked Roy after watching Rick for a long time, and when he saw Rick’s face he could even hear what Rick was thinking.
“Rick!” said Roy a little louder and Rick looked at him.
After blinking a couple of times he said, “What?”
“What are you thinking about?”
“About how much she must love him, to wait for him all this time.”
“I guess he is the love of her life.”
“I never imagined that from her.”
“Lisa is box full of surprises, you have no clue.”
“I have always thought of her as someone with no feelings,” said Rick and Roy made a grin.
“That’s because you don’t know her, because you made a picture of her in your head and you only see her as Commander Hayes.”
“Maybe. You can deny that she is heartless, but you cannot blame me for thinking that she has no heart,” said Rick without even thinking.
“You don’t know her,” said Roy with a hard voice.
“But I know how she works and her life is her job, and she’s really bossy and picky at it. I mean she never saw a good thing in any officer, besides ..” Rick was saying but he remained in silence when he saw Roy standing up with a very angry look on his face. He opened a drawer and took a file from it and threw it to Rick.
“You asked me earlier why you had won the Titanium Medal, well here is the reason. Read it, you might be surprised,” said Roy very seriously as if he was upset, so Rick took a seat and started to read the file.
“Report case 01481984-020 Mars Base incident
During the development of my mission to infiltrate Sara Base on Mars, I found several survivors who were rescued by rescue team 171 commanded by Captain Sullivan. However, one of the survivors remained with me in order to help me in accomplishing the mission to overload the reflex engines that where in the underground of Sara Base. After the mission was accomplished, escape from the base was impossible for us. Lieutenant Riber was seriously injured on his left arm and heavy enemy fire didn’t allow us to reach the extraction point.
I turned on my emergency sign in order for a rescue team to reach us, but the enemy fire was so heavy that no rescue team could reach us. In that moment, Corporal Richard Hunter arrived to where we were and in a risky maneuver he broke the pressurized window of the room where Lieutenant Riber and I were. It was obvious that Corporal Hunter wasn’t trained for a rescue mission and his VT wasn’t able to carry Lieutenant Riber and myself at the same time, so I ordered Hunter to get out of the base with the injured Lieutenant Riber. Hunter was reluctant to comply with my order at the beginning because he had been ordered to rescue me at all costs, but finally he obeyed my command and started to fly away with Lieutenant Riber in the back compartment of the Vt cockpit.
When there were only a few seconds left before the detonation of the Base, putting at risk his own life, Corporal Hunter returned to the base. With a maneuver never seen before, he lifted me out of the base with the hand of the VT in battleloid mode, thereby accomplishing his mission of rescuing me from Sara base without injury and also saving Lieutenant Riber’s life because he was able to obtain rapid medical attention.
The RDF must recognize this clear act of courage. Corporal Hunter put his life in danger in order to accomplish a direct order, going beyond his duties as soldier. His will to save other people’s lives has been clearly seen in Corporal Hunter’s behavior, even before he became a soldier. This is the reason why I fully recommend awarding Corporal Hunter with the Titanium Medal for Courage Beyond Duty. This medal clearly represents Corporal Hunter’s actions on Sara Base, even when he was ordered to leave the Base in order to save his life and Lieutenant Riber’s life, he came back and saved my life.
Actions such as this should be recognized in days that we are living.
Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Hayes, SDF-1 First Officer and Flight Operator.”

Rick finished reading the file and was speechless. He couldn’t believe what he had read, especially because after he had rescued her from Sara Base, she had been really pissed off with him to the point that he thought that she would kick him out of the service. But then there was this report where she was recommending him be awarded with the Titanium Medal. He just didn’t know what to think.
“After that I had no choice but to recommend you receive the Titanium Medal,” said Roy.
“But I don’t get it Roy, I thought that she was furious …” Rick was saying, but he kept quiet when he saw Roy’s killer look.
“You should be a little more grateful Rick, she could have gotten you a court martial for putting her and Lieutenant Riber’s life in danger with your attempt to be a hero, but she saw beyond that. That’s why she is our CAG, you know. Again, you should respect her more,” said Roy.
“I know, it’s just all this takes me off guard,” said Rick looking at the report again. He felt so weird about all this.
“Like I said, you create an image of her in your head that has nothing to do with reality.”
“I guess so…” said Rick and looked at the floor again. Now he really regretted the fact that he had given his medal to Minmei. If he had known all that the medal represented he would have kept it; he would have treasured it.
“You are thinking about how it must feel to be loved in that way?” asked Roy after a moment of silence.
“Yes,” said Rick and looked at Roy. Actually, that was a big part of what he was thinking. “I was thinking that it would be nice if Minmei loved me in that way.”
Roy only made a grin, he knew Minmei a little, more than anything by what Rick had told him and that was enough to know that she could never love someone in the same way that Lisa loved Riber. She was too self-centered to do that. But he knew that he would never make Rick understand that, he would have to find out by himself.
“Minmei is still to young to understand the true meaning of love.”
“You are saying that because you don’t know her,” said Rick a little pissed off.
“True I don’t know her, but how old is she? Fifteen?”
“Sixteen,” answered Rick.
“Rick, whether you like it or not Minmei is still a kid, she doesn’t understand the meaning of love, not like Lisa does. Don’t think that I think that Minmei is not the right one for you, that’s something that only you can decide. All I’m saying is that she is not the woman that you are searching for to love you unconditionally, the person who would be able to give up everything for you. Maybe she will be some day, but right now all that she is, is a teenager.”
“You are wrong Roy, you were saying that I made a picture of Lisa in my head that had nothing to do with the real one, well you are doing the same with Minmei, you are not judging her fairly.”
“Hey! It’s not for you to be angry with me, I’m just telling you what I think, you were the one that came here looking for me.”
“I’m sorry,” said Rick ashamed when he noticed that Roy was upset. “I think I better leave, it’s really late.”
“Yes, it wouldn’t be a bad idea, we both need to rest,” said Roy and stood up.
“True, sorry to have woken you up,” said Rick when he was near the door.
“Hey, it’s no problem, you know that you can count on me for whatever you need,” said Roy giving Rick a hard hit on the back.
“I know, thanks for answering my questions.”
“You only have to swear to me that you won’t say a word to anyone.”
“I swear.”
“Because if Claudia finds out that I told you, she will kill me.”
“I know, but don’t worry, no one will know about this conversation.”
“Fine.”
“Fine,” said Rick and stepped out of Roy’s apartment. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” said Roy and they held each other, then Rick started to walk away.
“Rick,” said Roy.
“Yes.”
“About Minmei, you know people change. I mean, have you ever thought that I would be so in love like I am?”
Rick only look at him and smiled, “Thanks brother, for everything. And forget everything that I said in the morning,” said Rick with a voice that sounded sad to Roy.
Roy closed the door and regretted his last words. He felt that he was giving Rick false hopes; he knew that Minmei wouldn’t change or that at least she wouldn’t ever feel the commitment and devotion that Rick was wanting, not like Lisa had done. Rick would have to wait and grow up before a woman like Lisa put her eyes on him. A woman like Lisa, thought Roy. Rick and Lisa- now that would be an interesting combination to see, he thought with a smile.
“You really are tired Fokker, you better go to bed, because you are talking nonsense,” said Roy, entering his bedroom and jumping into bed.

Rick entered his bedroom, put his pajamas on and let himself fall onto the bed. He was incredibly tired, but even with all that he could not fall asleep, he couldn’t get his conversation with Roy out of his head. He knew that Roy didn’t believe the last thing that he had said to him and even when he refused to accept it, something in his heart told him that it was true, that Minmei would never love him with so much devotion.
Rick thought about it and imagined how it would feel to be with someone that loved in that way, in how safe and happy Riber should be feeling. He wanted to feel that way; he wanted someone to love him like that. He needed someone to help him feel stronger, someone that would listen to him, support him and just be with him, without asking anything in return. Someone who was there every time that he needed it, when everything else seemed to overwhelmed him, when the battles, the war, the death was to much for him. Then she would only hold him and be with him. And he would have someone waiting for him, someone to return to after every battle. Someone that loved him in the same way that Lisa loved Riber, the same way he wanted to be loved. Rick tried to think more until his eyes started to close, but one phrase remained in his head until he fell completely asleep with a smile on his face “someone that loves him like Lisa loves, some one like Lisa……. “

To Be continued….

Author’s note: hi! First I want to apologize for all that it took me to write this chapter, but I didn’t remember well the robotech chapter “Sweet Sixteen” and it took me a while to find it and finally see it, but here it is.
Like always I’ll be waiting for your replies at jo_anderson19ahoo.com or in the forum, I hope you like it, this one is Rick Hunter based chapter so I hope it turns out to be ok.
That’s all take care and review please!